Sweetgreen Review

After the DC Gluten-Free Expo (recap coming soon), I knew I needed a hearty helping of healthy food to balance the sugary, carb-laded samples I tried at the event. With some time on my hands before catching the train back to Baltimore, I decided to catch the red line to Dupont Circle to pay a visit to Sweetgreen, a restaurant definitely topping my to-try list.

Sweetgreen regionally has several locations in D.C. and recently opened up one in Baltimore's Harbor East neighborhood. The Dupont Circle location I visited is conveniently located near the National Mall and White House but definitely away from the hustle and bustle of the more touristy parts of the city.

The restaurant is founded on the principles of transparency, sustainability, local sourcing and from-scratch cooking, all of which I am totally a fan of. 

Sweetgreen's cuisine is salad or grain bowls, either custom made or from a menu of tantalizing options. Vegan and gluten-free options are noted, and the staff are all aware of what options can be modified to fit your dietary restrictions. 

Sweetgreen's focus on real, authentic food definitely is evident from the moment you enter. They wear their food philosophy on their sleeve, and fresh ingredients are clearly prepared right before your eyes.

The menu notes gluten-filled and vegan options and can be viewed on Sweetgreen's website. For a more detailed look at allergen information, click here.

What's really cool about the Dupont Kitchen location is that it actually is home to the Sweetgreen Test Kitchen, where culinary wizards go to work innovating new menu options. Items originated at this location make it country-wide after a test run, and it was pretty cool to see how Sweetgreen factors customers in to their menu evolution.

I ordered the guacamole greens salad, which features mesclun, avocado, roasted chicken, red onion, tomatoes, tortilla chips, lime cilantro jalapeño vinaigrette, and a squeeze of lime. As I stepped up to order, I informed the staff member making my bowl that I was gluten and dairy-free, and she assured me that my choice of salad was good because she was gluten-free herself. She promptly changed her gloves and got a fresh bowl to make the salad in. 

The salad was simply amazing, with fresh flavors and wonderful textural contrast between the crunchiness of the chips, the crisp veggies, and smooth avocado. I love how the bowl is packed with protein, healthy fats, and plenty of vegetables, definitely changing my mind that salads are typically boring. Everything was noticeably fresh and flavorful, and the dressing proportion was spot on- I requested the medium amount between light and loaded. 

I never order drinks other than water when I eat out, but I definitely made an exception for the hibiscus lime fresca on tap. Their frescas change seasonally, so definitely tune in for the freshest concoction. The hibiscus lime fresca was refreshing and fruity without being sweet, a perfect summertime thirst quencher. I ended up refilling my cup multiple times during my meal, and made sure to carry a full cup out when I left after my meal.

I am quite simply head over heels for Sweetgreen, and loved my meal with no reservations. Sweetgreen makes healthy food affordable, accessible, and most importantly delicious to eat, and definitely helped get my stomach back on track after the Gluten-Free Expo. I look forward to visiting again and sampling around their menu, though it will be hard not to order the guacamole greens salad over and over again. 

The Basics

Address: 1512 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20036

Website: www.sweetgreen.com

Cuisine: Salad, Bowls, Vegetarian, Vegan

Ideal For: Lunch, Dinner

Price: Salads run $6.25-$12.60

Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.

Disclaimer: This review is based upon the information I have at the time of the review and does not reflect changes in ingredients or availability of items. Please contact the restaurant directly for up-to-date information and feel free to contact me with any questions or comments. I was not compensated for this review and it is a reflection of my personal opinion.